I accompany with this dispatch, under a separate cover, a printed copy of the
message. It is a very able document, and by the boldness with which it meets
and treats the various issues between the parties, has done much to dispel
the cloud of antagonism which had formed previous to the beginning of the
session.
I inclose under cover of this dispatch, marked No. 1, translation of those
portions of the message treating of the various points at issue before the
country.
Upon the question of concluding the war, the President evidently intended to
refute the general charge that the Chilians had no purpose to arrive at a
peace. The statement of a desire to make peace as soon as possible, as well
as the disavowal of the purpose to permanently occupy Peru, by declaring the
autonomy of that country, is very emphatic. My own knowledge of the desires
of the Executive upon this point corroborates the utterance of the message,
which desires have frequently been stated to you in my dispatches. The
President informs the Congress that the bases of peace have been signed with
“one of the most honorable leaders of the Peruvian army,” referring to the
recent protocol with Iglesias. For prudential reasons the bases of the
protocol were not detailed in the message.
The question of the Holy See and the apostolic delegate, Del Frate, is very
highly touched upon, as involving a controversy which is only just at its
beginning. At the close of the message the subject is
[Page 104]
resumed under the aspect of the relations
between the church and state, and the most important measures of reform are
boldly announced and recommended. Among these are the secularization of
cemeteries, the establishment of registry and of civil marriage.
In accordance with the recommendations of the message, a bill has already
been introduced into the Senate providing for the secularization of
cemeteries.* * * * *
A question relating to the attempted restoration of relations between Chili
and Spain is touched upon. This question will be fully laid before you in a
subsequent dispatch.
I also inclose a translation of certain portions of the message relating to
the army, and the economic and financial condition of the country, all of
which will be found of interest.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
103.—Translation.]
Extracts from the message of the President of Chili
at the opening of the National Congress of 1883.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the Chamber of
Deputies: In informing you of the general progress of the
public administration during the past year, I am gratified above all in
assuring you that the internal peace has been maintained, as has also
the firm, steady, and onward march of our institutions. To this
circumstance, which among us is usual and constant, and which forms the
most valuable assurance of our political progress, we owe the vigorous
evolution of all the sources of our national development. For such
marked favors we should yield up our gratitude to Almighty
Providence.
* * * * * * *
Impelled by the timely desire to put an end to the war, I have sedulously
endeavored to arrive at peace by all the means consistent with the
national dignity. I have constantly striven with great difficulties,
springing now from the defective authority of the pretended rulers who
have desired to assume the representation of Peru, and now by the
excessive demands which have rendered agreement impossible.
Never have a conquered people presented a condition in history like that
of Peru. Overwhelmed by calamities, without an element of resistance,
she has been, to her own suffering, a prey to the excesses of leaders
who have accomplished her devastation and anarchy; while the partial
union of men without military discipline, inflamed by mistaken
patriotism, has excited the Peruvian people themselves; nor has regular
warfare been possible with soldiers of this class. All these
circumstances influenced me greatly in favor of peace.
The material prostration and moral anarchy of Peru have by no means
excited our desire, since Peru, whatever ill-fortune she may have
brought on herself, must remain in the regular and independent communion
of American peoples. Nor can there be a doubt but our desire for peace
has been always true and sincere.
The pitiable condition of Peru has awakened the sympathy of men who,
above the narrow views of the chiefs and the parties who sustain them,
have proposed to arrive at the peace, and have displayed a persevering
and patriotic desire to this end. The Peruvian people, wearied and
fatigued by their own misfortunes, have not shown themselves indifferent
to this call; and if at this moment it is not given to me to say, as I
have earnestly desired, that peace is concluded, and that it answers to
our just demands and to that spirit of equity which we have always
obeyed, I can nevertheless assure you that bases of peace have been
already signed by one of the most honorable leaders of the Peruvian
army, who, already in possession of a large part of the territory, will
shortly, as I believe, assume the whole public power, and will then be
able, with sufficient and well-qualified authority, to sign a definitive
treaty of peace. This we may hope, provided unforeseen accidents do not
interrupt the regular course of events.
* * * * * * *
At the same time the resumption of our interrupted diplomatic relations
with Bolivia is being prepared.
* * * * * * *
[Page 105]
An official relation has been given yon of the causes which produced the
rupture of the agreement of truce, whose capital points had been
arranged in January of the past year between the agents of the two
Republics. As was to be expected from its strange cause, this sudden
rupture could not be of a permanent and definitive character. The
interests which unite Chili and Bolivia are calculated to draw both
peoples into an agreement of mutual advantage and reciprocal benefit,
which we may shortly expect to see consummated.
At the call of this common interest, which cannot be prevented, and can
only be evaded for a time, has arisen the idea of resuming the
interrupted, conference of January, 1882.
I cannot say at this moment that a perfect agreement has been reached as
to the form and conditions under which this negotiation is to be carried
on, but I judge that the differences which have up to this time
presented themselves, in the views of the representatives of both
nations, will be easily reconciled.
* * * * * * *
You ought to be acquainted with the official documents, which have been
for several months in the hands of the public, which compose the history
and unfold the development of the question initiated by the Government
in 1878 to obtain the recognition of the prelate they had selected, in
accordance with constitutional directions, to occupy the vacant
archbishopric of the archdiocese of Santiago.
I have not thought it necessary to relate again the causes which resulted
in the inevitable but unfortunate rupture of our diplomatic relations
with the Holy See. The departure of the apostolic delegate was rendered
necessary by the fact that he had initiated-and achieved his attempt to
bring the administration of the Chilian church into his own hands, while
at the same time his diplomatic immunities, although not in opposition
to the nature and reach of his proposed functions, would place him out
of the control of our laws.
* * * * * * *
You also know beforehand the character and import of the public deeds
which have produced a considerable modification in the state of our
relations with Spain. Owing to repeated suggestions made to the
general-in-chief of our army of occupation in Peru by the diplomatic
representative of Spain at that capital, we did not hesitate a moment in
paying military honors to the remains of the Spanish soldiers and
sailors (while being removed to the cemetery at Lima) who had fallen in
1866 in the combat at Callao, and provisionally buried at that time on
the island of San Lorenzo.
The Government could not have hesitated a moment in yielding to these
suggestions, first and principally because it was essential to adapt its
conduct to the practices and uniform customs from which educated and
Christian nations never depart on such occasions, even with the enemy
who falls in the heat of combat; and, secondly, because the fulfilling
of this duty would present a favorable occasion for returning to Spain
various marked demonstrations of courtesy and good will which had
obtained the favor of the country and of the Government.
The participation which we had in the pious ceremony at Lima, in
obedience to the strict and binding duty of the Government of a
civilized and advanced country, was considered by the Spanish Government
as a favorable opportunity to renew the friendly relations unhappily
interrupted between the two countries; and so it represented officially
in a communication directed by its representative in Lima to our
minister plenipotentiary in that city, a communication which also
proposed, in proof of deference and as an expression of friendly
sentiments, that Spain should send one of her ships of war to the port
of Valparaiso to salute the flag of the Republic.
We accepted this new and kindly-inspired suggestion of the Spanish
Government, and offered to return the salute which they would make to
our national flag. You yourselves are withesses to the manner in which
those acts took place, and the numerous and significant manifestations
of public sentiment which followed this event have assured the
Government that they have translated faithfully the opinion of the
country.
So far the treaty re-establishing our friendly relations with Spain has
not been signed, as some difficulties have arisen, which, nevertheless,
will not affect the question seriously.
* * * * * * *
With the other European and American nations we cultivate our former
relations of friendship with an elevated spirit of justice.
* * * * * * *
The exploration of the desert of Atacama becomes daily an object of
greater and more intense interest for industry and science, both of
which have important problems to solve there, and it is necessary, so
far as the power of man can reach, that we study the nature of these
tracts, that industry may calmly and quietly take possession of them. An
exploring commission has been appointed, which will shortly commence its
work under instructions which it has received.
* * * * * * *
[Page 106]
The army and the national guard which have possession of the enemy’s
territories have continued, as always, giving testimonies of bravery,
discipline, and self-denial in the face of the hardships of a campaign
which continues to be severe.
You are aware that the movements of the army, in the period to which I
refer, if less brilliant than the grand battles of the previous
campaigns, are not therefore less worthy of attention and applause.
While one part of our forces has held the north of Peru in complete
subjection, another part of them has been in constant effort to break up
and destroy the bands of Montoneros which, under the orders of chiefs as
hostile to their own country as to us, have devastated the champaigns
and plundered such towns as were not protected by our arms.
With sacrifices which have not been less painful for not being great, we
have continued in our efforts to free the Peruvian soil of that element
which has disturbed the tranquillity of the country and prevented the
arrival of peace.
In the course of your sessions, you will be informed by the minute report
of the general-in-chief, which I will cause to be distributed among you,
of the method and means with which he has discharged the enormous labor
intrusted to him.
One of the constant preoccupations of the Government, since the beginning
of our occupation of Peru, has been the health of our army in that
country of epidemics. From the same source I am gratified in being able
to assure you that the sanitary condition of our forces has been during
the year, and is now, satisfactory.
* * * * * * *
The war, which brings so many disturbances with it, has not opposed the
development and onward progress of all the industries. The last harvest
of cereals was not, in truth, as abundant as it promised, but in
exchange, other branches of cultivation, not less important for the
agricultural development of the country, have given satisfactory
returns. The workman finds steady and well-paid work, and day labor is
sought, and often in vain, for the various needs of developing
industries. The products of the soil retain at home prices relatively
high, although favorable conditions have not occurred for their entry
into the great markets of the world. The activity of all industrial
employments is shown by the daily, increase of commerce by sea and land,
in the growing steam navigation on our coasts, and in the incessant
traffic of our railroads. Nor is it a less equivocal testimony that an
extraordinary number of foreign vessels arrive at our ports soliciting
the carriage of national products and the large amount of merchandise
seeking a market on our shores.
Also a result of this is the mercantile movement which the statistics of
the past year show.
The general commerce of the Republic in this period reached $124,000,000,
or $16,000,000 more than in 1881. Of this sum, $63,000,000 answer to
imports, and $61,000,000 to exports.
The special commerce amounted to $100,000,000 in 1881, and to more than
$120,000,000 in the following year, which gives an increase of more than
20 per cent. for 1882. Of these figures, $70,000,000 correspond to
exports, and $50,000,000 to imports. Nevertheless, we must remember that
the exports are valued at the price in the currency of the country,
while the imports are estimated in pesos fuertes,
agreeable to the tariff of valuation which rules in our custom-houses.
The circumstance of excluding from the amount of imports the arms and
articles of war introduced for the state, may also somewhat influence
these figures.
* * * * * * *
peroration.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the Chamber of
Deputies: The internal peace which the Republic enjoys, and the
consequent universal welfare which is so vigorously developing itself,
impose on us the duty and the task of quietly and prudently bettering
our institutions.
On a previous occasion I have recommended to your approbation the study
of very important projects of political and administrative laws, which
are imperatively demanded by the exigencies of our progress. I have no
need of especially recommending this at present, for I am justified in
the conviction that in the course of your sessions you will confirm the
laws which, relating to our municipal and electoral progress, have
already passed under your official deliberation.
But the field open to your action covers always a wide area, where you
must follow step by step the exigencies of our economical, political,
and social progress.
You cannot conceal from yourselves that the actual condition of relations
between the church and the state claim your imperative attention with
the solution of a grave and complex problem.
The principles embodied in the fundamental charter of the Republic, as an
expression of its sovereignty, and the royalties which the state may
receive as an inheritance from the Spanish monarchy, meet to-day many
obstacles in their application; for the church, as is notorious, opposes
the first and ignores the other in the name of
[Page 107]
doctrines which had been no obstacle to their full
application during the two-thirds of our national existence.
At present the church denies to the civil power the right of nominating
the high church dignitaries; efficiency is practically denied to the
laws, which oblige the functionaries of the church, in their character
of high dignitaries and public servants of the country, to recognize the
superior authorities of the state; and the authority which our
constitution confers on the public power to grant or refuse entrance
(into-the Republic) of conciliatory decrees, bulls, or pontifical
rescripts for execution on the soil of the Republic is called into
question.
You will understand that this reaction, so violently commenced, will
cause us many conflicts as severe as they are barren, which have for
their special merit the virtue of agitating deeply the spirit of citizen
and believer.
The necessity is, then, to seek a method of solution to these conflicts,
which method, respecting the individual right and opinion of each and
all of our fellow-citizens, affirms and at the same time strengthens the
authority of the state, which is the reflection of the sovereign power
of the nation.
I will not conceal from you that the problem is complex, and that in
solving it you must advance with so much the more caution, as the
question is at bottom-one not yet solved in nations more advanced than
ours, and which have long felt the same sting which to-day rouses us and
impels us onward in the highway of reform.
The juridical separation of church and state, leaving the former as an
institution of private life which is the only condition on which it can
exist, if the separation be once effected, is not a religious reform. It
is simply a political reform of our legislation and of our public
rights.
Nevertheless, this is an undertaking of immense proportions, since the
chains which unite the civil power with the religious power have their
roots in our whole constitutional and legal system, and in their
application even touch the most fundamental details of our
administrative system.
The logical and natural starting-point in reforms of this nature and
grandeur is clearly indicated. We should extend the dominion of common
rights to all its applications, commencing by embodying it in those laws
which rule the constitution of the civil state of all the inhabitants of
the Republic.
Another of these reforms, initiated some time since, can be shortly
converted into a law, since it is assured of the sanction of one of the
branches of legislative power. I allude, as you know, to the projected
law for the secularization of cemeteries. The establishment of the
registry and of civil matrimony will complete the first phase of this
reform which we cannot evade, since it is demanded by the natural course
of events.
I am persuaded that you will meet in your own patriotism the necessary
stimulus to carry to a conclusion these reforms destined to shun the
danger of disturbing conflicts, and that you will find, at the proper
time, in your thoughts the means of introducing the improvements which
this part of our legislation claims, founding such improvements on the
basis of equity and justice, which, without alarming weak consciences,
will insure to each one of our fellow-citizens his individual rights in
all their legitimate manifestations.
I have profound confidence in the serene and calm judgment of the Chilian
people; judgment has always been reflected in our Congresses, however
agitated and uncontrolled the momentary passions which have at times
divided them, Now, as always, patriotism and an elevated spirit of
harmony will inspire you in your deliberations.
DOMINGO SANTA MARIA.
Santiago, June 1,
1883.
